Relay



July 26, 1960 J. J. CUMMINGS 2,946,933

RELAY Filed March 5. 1958 INVENTOR, JAMES J. cummmes ATTOR N E Y.

United States Patent Ofice 2,946,933 Patented July 26, 1960 RELAY JamesJ. Cummings, Monmouth Beach, NLL, assignor to .the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Mar. 5, 1958,Ser. No. 719,456

5 Claims. (Cl. 317-171)- (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of anyroyalty thereon.

The present invention relates to a relay. More particularly theinvention is concerned with a quick, fast acting means for actuating arelay and characterized by means whereby the relay contacts aremaintained in a locked position to provide a practically vibrationlessand shock proof device. This feature is of prime importance in devicessuch as missile and other rapidly accelerating devices.

The invention can best be understood from the following description tobe read in view of the accompanying drawing in which the single figureof drawing shows the improved relay, in perspective and partially cutaway in section.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a canister 11 made of anon-ferrous material in which the relay components are confined. Themovable members of the relay comprise a pair of magnetic bodies shown at13 and 15. Each of the magnetic bodies 13 and 15 are identical in shapeand configuration, and for ease and convenience of description, only oneof the bodies will be structurally described, it being understood thatthe description of one will be equally applicable to the other.

The body 13 has a semi-cylindrical configuration and is provided with aflattened face portion 17 that is in substantial abutting relationshipwith the face portion of the body member 15. The body 13 is providedwith a substantially C shaped cutout 19 the spaced ends of which form apart of the face 17. The spaced ends are provided with respective N andS pole pieces such as identified and marked on the drawing. The body 13is further provided with a longitudinal radial slot 21 extending fromthe top surface 23 to the bottom surface 25 and extending inwardly fromthe outer peripheral edge of the body but short of the cutout 19. Theface portion 17 is also provided with a substantially concaveindentation 27 extending from a point above the N pole piece to the topsurface 23, and terminating in an angulated diametric lip 29. Formed inthe top surface 23 is a hole 31 adapted to receive the actuating pin ofan electro-magnetically controlled plunger hereinafter described. Fromthe description above, it is believed apparent that when the two bodies13, 15 are juxtaposed, the facial surfaces as Well as corresponding polepieces of each of said members will be symmetrically arranged relativeto each other.

To preclude undue sway and lateral movement of the body 13, there isprovided an inwardly extending fin 33 rigidly aflixed to the innersurface of canister 11. The fin 33 is substantially coextensive with theslot 21, and positioned in the slot to serve as a guide for both thelongitudinal movement of the body member 13 and also for the slightlateral movement thereof as explained below. From inspection of thedrawing, it can be seen that a similar arrangement is provided formember 15. To limit the longitudinal movement of the body member 13,

there are provided a pair of top and bottom stops designatedrespectively at 35 and 37 which are affixed to wall of the canister andextending perpendicularly therefrom.

For making contact with an electrical device there is provided aninsulated disc 39 aflixed to the base of body 15 and which is adapted toengage the free end of a resilient contact arm 41, which in turn isadapted to make or break contact with terminals such as shown at 43.

The actuating means, hereinbefore referred to, includes a spring loadedplunger 45 terminating in a pivotally mounted actuating pusher pin 47.The spring 49 is adapted to normally urge the plunger 45 upwardly, i.e.,in a direction away from the body members 13, 15. The plunger 45 isactuated by a conventional coil 51 to which a source of voltage may beapplied by conventional leads as shown. The plunger 45 and itsassociated pusher pin 47 is so aligned relative to the magnetic bodies1.3, 15 that when the plunger is urged downwardly, the pin 47 willengage either one of the lips 29 and upon further downward movement thepin will slide into the hole 31 of either one of the bodies 13, 15dependent upon the relative displaced position of either of the saidmagnetic bodies.

In operation it is to be assumed that the relay is in the position shownin the drawing wherein the S pole piece of magnetic body 13 is inabutment with the N pole piece of magnetic body 15. In this arrangementthe relay is locked in one predetermined position by the attractiveaction of the abutting N and S pole pieces of the respective magneticbodies. When it is desired to change the relay to its other operativeposition, the coil 51 is energized to actuate the plunger 45 whereby thepin 47 will urge the body member =13 downwardly as hereinbeforedescribed. As this action is being effected, S pole piece of body 13 andthe N pole piece of body 15 will become separated and as the like polepieces of the respective body members are opposite to each other, thebodies 13, 15 will repel each other in a lateral direction. Suchmomentary separation of the bodies will allow the bodies to slide pasteach other despite the protruding lip portions 29. At the same timecontinued thrust or downward push of the pin 47 in the hole 31 of member13 will cause the member 13 to be urged to the stop 37 and then stillfurther slightly downwardly due to the inherent resiliency of the stop37. Such resiliency in the stop 37 is present due to the fact that thestop is secured only at one end to the canister '11. When this occursthe like poles of the members 13 and 15 are no longer directly oppositeto each other, i.e. the N pole of member 13 will be slightly below the Npole of member 15. Momentarily thereafter the S pole of body 15 will beurged into abutment With the N pole of body 13 and the relay will againbe locked in a position converse to that shown in the drawing.

What is claimed is:

l. A relay including first and second symmetrical, semicylindricalbodies having discrete top and bottom ends and opposing fiat surfaces,each of said flat surfaces having spaced N and S pole piecesintermediate the respec tive top and bottom ends, means for maintainingthe flattened faces of said bodies in substantially intimate contact andfor permitting said flattened surfaces to be longitudinally positionedrelative to each other, said bodies being normally positioned such thatthe S pole piece of one body is contiguous to the N pole piece of theother body whereby said bodies are locked in a first prescribedposition, discrete angulated lips extending upwardly and outwardly fromeach of the fiat surfaces at the respective top ends of said bodies, acavity in each of said bodies intermediate one or" said pole pieces andthe diametric lip of each body adapted to receive the diametric lip ofthe other magnetic body and be disengaged therefrom a hole in each ofthe top ends of said bodies substantially at the junction of theangulated lip and its associated top end, and means operably engageablewith the lip and hole of either of said bodies for reversing theprescribed position of said bodies such that the N pole piece of saidone body is contiguous to the S pole of said other body to lock saidbodies in said reverse position;

2. A self-locking relay including first and second symmetrical,semi-cylindrical magnetic bodies having discrete top and bottom ends andopposing flattened face portions wherein each of the face portionsincludes N and S pole pieces formed therein, whereby when the S polepiece of the first magnetic body is contiguous to the N pole piece ofthe second magnetic body the relay will be locked in a firstpredetermined position, each of said bodies having on its top portion anangulated diametric lip and a hole spaced therefrom, and a cavityintermediate one of said pole pieces and the diametric lip adapted toreceive the diametric lip of the other magnetic body when said bodiesare in the first predetermined position and be disengaged therefrom whenone of said bodies is moved relative to the other, means operablyengageable with said lip and hole for motivating either one of saidmagnetic bodies whereby said bodies will assume a position inverse tothat of the first predetermined position and an actuating means operablyassociated with at least one of said magnetic bodies.

3. In combination, a canister and a self-locking relay, including firstand second symmetrical, semi-cylindrical magnetic bodies having discretetop and bottom ends and opposing flattened face portions wherein each ofthe face portions includes N and S pole pieces formed therein,

whereby when the S pole of the first magnetic body is contiguous to theN pole piece of the second magnetic body the relay will be locked in afirst predetermined position, each of said magnetic bodies having on itstop portion an angulated diametric lip and a hole spaced therefrom, acavity intermediate one of said pole pieces and the diametric lipadapted to receive the diametric lip of the other magnetic body and bedisengaged therefrom when one of said bodies is moved relative to theother and an elongated radial peripheral slot, means operably engageablewith said lip and hole for motivating either one of said magnetic bodieswhereby said magnetic bodies will assume a position inverse to that ofsaid first predetermined position, anactuating means operably associatedwith at least one of said magnetic bodies, means afiixed to saidcanister for defining the limit of travel of the magnetic bodies andguide means engageable in said radial slot for preventing any unduelateral movement of said magnetic bodies in their travel.

4. A device of the kind set forth in claim 3 wherein said guide meansinclude a pair of discrete fins aflixed to said canister.

5. A device of the kind set forth in claim 3 wherein the actuating meansfor motivating the magnetic bodies includes a plunger and associated pinadapted to engage the top and hole of the discrete magnetic bodies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS995,681 Kanagy June 20, 1911 2,012,153 Bates Aug. 20, 1935 2,830,149Winans Apr. 8, 1958

